Ginebra import and Gilas star Justin Brownlee with Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho’s soft-spoken coach Dante Alinsunurin couldn’t help but show his fanboy side when Barangay Ginebra San Miguel resident import Justin Brownlee pulled up to watch the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference games on Thursday.
While Brownlee was waiting for his volleyball idol Sisi Rondina for a short meet-and-greet at the press room, a starstruck Alinsunurin approached the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player to ask for a picture.
The Choco Mucho coach, who has been a Ginebra fan since the era of Robert Jaworski, had a chance to share with Brownlee that he’s a longtime Gin Kings supporter.
READ: Sisi Rondina shines in front of ‘fan’ Brownlee
Not to be outdone, Brownlee said he became Choco Mucho fan after witnessing his “favorite player” and Alinsunurin’s star spiker Rondina drop 23 points in their 25-18, 25-20, 25-21 win over Cignal.
“Nagstart ako maging fan ng Ginebra nung binigyan kami ng jersey ng Ginebra ng parents ko. Doon nagstart na lagi ko ng pinapanood games nila sa TV,” the veteran men’s and women’s volleyball coach told Inquirer Sports.
LOOK: Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin meets Justin Brownlee. #PVL2024 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/iEP703HVK3
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 14, 2024
Alinsunurin remembers watching his favorite players Jaworski, Joey and Chito Loyzaga, Rudy Distrito, Dante Gonzalgo, and Leo Isaac as early as eight years old. His parents even bought him an Isaac jersey.
READ: Brownlee pulls up to watch PVL games and ‘favorite’ Sisi Rondina
“Sobrang nagustuhan ko sila dahil sa attitude nila sa game na hanggat wala pang final buzzer kahit tambak sila lumalaban pa rin at minsan nananalo pa. Hanggang ngayon nanood pa rin ako ng mga games nila,” he said.
Alinsunurin, who steered Choco Mucho to its first PVL finals last December and led the team to a 4-0 start this season, has been channeling Ginebra’s never-say-die culture in his pro stint.
“Siguro sobrang naiimagine ko talaga ngayon sa sitwasyon namin na talagang every game importante, kahit anong sitwasyon o adjustment na pwedeng gawin, kailangan laban lang ng laban. Kung ano ‘man yung struggle namin sa loob ng court, kailangan laban. Importante pa rin sa akin yun,” he said.
Alinsunurin is aware that Choco Mucho has thousands of passionate fans in the PVL like Ginebra in the PBA and he hopes to repay the trust of their supporters by leading the Flying Titans to impressive performance and thrilling wins.
“Nakakadagdag ng motivation sa amin sa araw-araw kasi mas binibigay pa namin ‘yung best namin kasi alam namin na maraming taong sumusubaybay sa amin. Importante lang na magtuloy-tuloy kami sa ginagawa namin para mas marami kaming ma-inspire pa na manonood or bata na maglaro ng volleyball,” the Choco Mucho coach said.
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games men’s volleyball coach silver medalist is grateful to share a moment with Brownlee, who not only succeeded as a Ginebra player but also brought pride to Gilas Pilipinas with gold medals in the Cambodia SEA Games and Asian Games in Hangzhou last year.
“Bibihira naman kasi ang sumabaybay na basketball player sa volleyball. Siyempre sobrang thankful ako sa kanya kasi hindi lang siya sa basketball sumusuporta, pati sa volleyball din,” Alinsunurin said.